A series of coordinated bomb and gun attacks in southwestern Colombia has resulted in at least seven fatalities, according to multiple news sources.
Among the victims were two police officers. The attacks targeted Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, and surrounding towns, employing a range of tactics including car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire, and what is suspected to be a drone attack.
The Colombian Ministry of Defence reported a total of 19 attacks. Local media outlets have attributed some of the incidents to a dissident faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a claim which remains unverified by the BBC.
The targets included police stations, municipal buildings, and civilian areas, reflecting a worsening security situation in the region. Reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse cite a death toll of seven, with injuries ranging from 28 to over 50.
According to the Ministry of Defence’s social media statement, 12 attacks occurred in Cauca and seven in Valle del Cauca. The ministry described the violence as a desperate response by armed groups to recent military and police operations that have significantly impacted their illicit activities.
Cali’s mayor drew parallels to the city’s tumultuous past, comparing the current situation to the drug cartel violence prevalent in 1989.
These attacks follow the recent attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay in Bogotá. A 15-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene. The Attorney General’s office reported on Tuesday that the teenager has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder and illegal firearm possession, and a judge has ordered his detention.